This episode is a good example of Jane Wyman's superior acting skills. She makes a variety of scenes come alive, because she finds something in her scene partners' approach to the work that she can connect to and use to strengthen her own character, Angela. Three particular scenes caught my attention.
The first one is the visit that Terry (Laura Johnson) makes to Angela's home, where Angela threatens to tell Michael (Cliff Robertson) everything about Terry's sordid past as a call girl on the east coast. Not only is the dialogue razor sharp, there is a strong battle of wills occurring between the two women. And if you watch the scene closely, focusing on Miss Wyman's reactions, you can tell she is reading Laura Johnson as a tough girl. She responds to the grittiness that Johnson puts into the scene, and this makes Angela equally hard. It's fascinating to watch.
The next scene worth noting is the one where Angela's lawyer Phillip Erikson (Mel Ferrer) gets frustrated and walks out on her. Here, Miss Wyman has to dial it down and play a more tender side of her character. Angela will not grovel for Phillip to stay, but she clearly doesn't want him to leave. Later, after Philip has left and has connected other lawyers in the region, urging them not to work for Angela, she becomes steadfast in her resolve that she can survive with him. Men, who needs them, and all that.
The third scene I want to mention is my favorite one from this episode. There is a very intriguing exchange between Angela and Melissa (Ana-Alicia) about the future of Melissa's son Joseph. Angela predicts that Joseph will come to her for guidance, like Lance has done countless times. Melissa isn't having that, and so they spar. The key difference in the scene between Jane Wyman and Laura Johnson, and this one between Jane Wyman and Ana-Alicia is that Angela sees a kindred soul in Melissa. And I think as an actress Jane Wyman had incredible respect for Ana-Alicia's talents, and she always seems to give Ana-Alicia a lot more liberty in their scenes to upstage her...something that ultimately makes their characters equal on some level...they had the most ups-and-down on the show for eight seasons and their moments together were always among the best.
After watching this episode, it isn't the plot points that stick with me...it is how sharply defined Jane Wyman's skills are as an actress and how she chooses the best way to tap into the dynamics that her most important scene partners bring to the screen with her.
The first one is the visit that Terry (Laura Johnson) makes to Angela's home, where Angela threatens to tell Michael (Cliff Robertson) everything about Terry's sordid past as a call girl on the east coast. Not only is the dialogue razor sharp, there is a strong battle of wills occurring between the two women. And if you watch the scene closely, focusing on Miss Wyman's reactions, you can tell she is reading Laura Johnson as a tough girl. She responds to the grittiness that Johnson puts into the scene, and this makes Angela equally hard. It's fascinating to watch.
The next scene worth noting is the one where Angela's lawyer Phillip Erikson (Mel Ferrer) gets frustrated and walks out on her. Here, Miss Wyman has to dial it down and play a more tender side of her character. Angela will not grovel for Phillip to stay, but she clearly doesn't want him to leave. Later, after Philip has left and has connected other lawyers in the region, urging them not to work for Angela, she becomes steadfast in her resolve that she can survive with him. Men, who needs them, and all that.
The third scene I want to mention is my favorite one from this episode. There is a very intriguing exchange between Angela and Melissa (Ana-Alicia) about the future of Melissa's son Joseph. Angela predicts that Joseph will come to her for guidance, like Lance has done countless times. Melissa isn't having that, and so they spar. The key difference in the scene between Jane Wyman and Laura Johnson, and this one between Jane Wyman and Ana-Alicia is that Angela sees a kindred soul in Melissa. And I think as an actress Jane Wyman had incredible respect for Ana-Alicia's talents, and she always seems to give Ana-Alicia a lot more liberty in their scenes to upstage her...something that ultimately makes their characters equal on some level...they had the most ups-and-down on the show for eight seasons and their moments together were always among the best.
After watching this episode, it isn't the plot points that stick with me...it is how sharply defined Jane Wyman's skills are as an actress and how she chooses the best way to tap into the dynamics that her most important scene partners bring to the screen with her.
